Kwara State Government has scrapped the Parent- Teacher Association (PTA) levy in public primary schools, approving annual school grants instead.
Chairman State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, announced this at the opening of bid for the 2024 (3rd and 4th quarters) UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
Mr Adaramaja said that the state government would provide running costs for the 1,717 public schools.
He stated, ”The Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has approved the stoppage of the payment of PTA in all public primary schools in the state, from primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA in Kwara State.”
The SUBEB boss also announced the approval of procurement of English and Mathematics textbooks by the governor for free to the pupils in primary schools in the state.
Speaking on the bid opening, the SUBEB chairman said the intervention would cover projects, including the construction of a block of two classrooms with an office and construction of toilets.
He added, “The intervention also covers the remodeling and renovation of classrooms, drilling of solar-powered borehole with tank stand and rehabilitation of digital literacy across the state. It also covers the procurement of foundation literacy teaching and learning materials for primary one, fabrication and distribution of two-seater pupils/students’ furniture and safe schools initiative in some selected local governments, among others.”
Mr Adaramaja said that the governor equally approved the payment of 2025 counterpart funds for the UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
He urged contractors, who would get the jobs, to execute them in line with the specifications, warning that shoddy jobs would not be condoned.
Mr Adaramaja lauded the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba and other key stakeholders for contributing to the success of the programme.
Responding on behalf of the bidders, Maroof Ahmed, who is the Secretary to the Indigenous Contractors Association, thanked the government for giving them an opportunity to showcase their talents.
He pledged that their members would deliver quality services and would not let the government and the people of the state down.
(NAN)